James Ian Mengel: Driver risks jail with drunken midnight IGA dash

A court has heard a Southern Downs man who was more than five times the legal alcohol limit when nabbed by police is a ‘serious risk to the community’ and was lucky he didn’t kill someone.

A Stanthorpe man who was more than five times the legal alcohol limit has narrowly avoided jail time after making a drunken dash to IGA because he was hungry.

Police prosecutor Ken Wiggan told the Stanthorpe Magistrates Court James Ian Mengel was busted drunk driving on Matthew Street just after midnight on June 23.

He later recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.260 and admitted to drinking a beer and glass of port.

Sergeant Wiggan said the 30-year-old has a history of drug and drink driving, with past offences in 2020, 2018 and 2012.

“It’s likely that he has some issues that need to be addressed,” he said.

Defence lawyer Dorothy Switala said her client was stressed and hadn’t eaten after playing video games all day.

“(He) made the foolish decision to drive but IGA was closed at that stage,” she said.

“He was not thinking of what he was doing at the time and has thought about his implications every day since.”

Magistrate Julian Noud said Mengel presented a serious risk to the community and needed urgent treatment.

“It is nothing but good luck that you didn’t kill yourself or other people. Making matters worse you come before the court with a traffic history, and clearly past sentences have very little effect,” he said.

“Mr Mengel, I seriously considered a need for a sentence of imprisonment to achieve the need for deterrence.”

The former bar worker pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of liquor.

He was disqualified from driving for 20 months and placed on 18 months’ probation.

As part of his probation, Mengel must receive psychiatric and medical treatment and complete a drink driving rehabilitation program.